How to buy a back-to-school computer

When it comes to buying a laptop, decide which screen size makes the most sense, with 14 or 15 inches as a popular sweet spot between a display that’s too small (harder to multitask) and something too big (heavier and with poorer battery life).(Photo: Provided photo)

Good news for students — and parents — facing the inevitable computer upgrade: There’s never been a better time to buy one.

Not only are there more options than ever before in size and shape, brand and specifications, there are also attractive back-to-school deals to take advantage of.

But choosing the right device to match your needs and budget can be an overwhelming task. The following should help you decide what’s best for the student in your home, divided into various ages.

KINDERGARTEN TO SIXTH GRADE. While not as popular as laptops, a desktop computer might still be best for younger students. Not only do they cost less, on average, but they can be kept in a high-trafficked location in the home, such as a kitchen or family room, so mom and dad can keep an eye on where kids are going online.

Because they’re not designed for on-the-go use, desktops are also less prone to damage; they can’t be banged up or dropped as easily as laptops. The larger keyboards and mice are also more ergonomic than a laptop keyboard and trackpad, and better for smaller hands.

There are two main kinds of desktop PCs: a tower that connects to a monitor, and an “all-in-one” computer, where the guts of the machine are built into the monitor.

The advantage to desktops is you can easily upgrade components over time, such as adding a bigger monitor, more storage or memory, or a better graphics card. All-in-one machines, however, take up less space and have no cables exposed but aren’t as easy to upgrade.

MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL. Tweens and teens spend more time out of the home, and so portability is more important than for younger grades.

As such, laptops are perhaps more suitable for this age group. Decide on which screen size makes the most sense, with 14 or 15 inches as a popular sweet spot between a display that’s too small (harder to multitask) and something too big (heavier and with poorer battery life).

When it comes to operating systems, you’ve got three main choices: Windows, which is the most popular platform (and with the most selection in devices); macOS, which costs more but are very well built; and Chrome OS, which are the least expensive, but don’t support as many programs or have a lot of local storage (most applications require an internet connection).

Some parents buy their kids a tablet, and pair it with a wireless keyboard, but a true laptop is preferable for a couple of reasons. A laptop gives you more screen real estate to work with your programs and multitask between them. Laptops tend to have a lot more storage, and they have USB and SD card ports to easily get files on and off the computer. And a laptop’s clamshell design helps protect the screen when not in use.

Another option, however, is a “2-in-1” computer, which is a laptop when you need it and a tablet when you want it. Depending on the model, the screen bends back 360 degrees when you no longer need the keyboard, so you can use your fingertips or stylus on the screen like a tablet. In other cases, the screen detaches from the laptop, which you can take with you.

COLLEGE. Mobility and power are important qualities to have in a computer built for those in college.

The batteries in today’s laptops and 2-in-1s can last as long as 15 hours, which is considerably longer than laptops from even just a few years ago. This is because of better processors and operating systems that sip rather than gulp power, solid state drive storage instead of a hard disk drive, and better battery technology, too.

It’s incredibly important for college kids to first assess their needs. Depending on what curriculum they’re in, it could require more horsepower than an entry-level computer or the course might require a Mac over a PC, depending on the software required.

In other words, do your homework before you buy.

If budget permits, stretch yourself a bit to buy one with better specs, which might cost more up front but means you won’t likely need to buy a new computer a year or two later.

In short, purchasing a computer for school is like buying kids clothes: go a little bigger than you need today, so you can grow into it for longer-term savings.

Follow Marc Saltzman on Twitter: @marc_saltzman. Email him at askmarcsaltz­man@gmail.com.